Time stands still here

Last Sunday marked 7 years since my Mom passed away, and tomorrow it will be 18 years since Darwin left us.

This picture was taken at a wedding reception, though I'm not sure which one. I had thought it might be my cousin Eldon's marriage to Janice, but that was 41 years ago, which would make Darwin 30 in this photo, and I think that judging by the hair loss he should be closer to 40.

Anyway, I love this picture, and that's why I'm sharing it here today. We have had so many wonderful fun times, and when I look at this picture it reminds me to enjoy today instead of worrying about stuff I can't foresee or control.

My Mom was a constant worrier and a prayer warrior. Probably being a parent does that to most people, but being raised with a simple deep faith in God made it part of her personality. I have turned out to be a lot like her in that way, though I have a lot more doubts in my spiritual journey than she ever did, I'm sure.

I'm going to raise a glass and remember them both, later today. Wish they were here.

Cottage Life

Being at the cottage means seeing wildlife that we don't have at home.  Sometimes, it's freaky.

I saw a mass in the Sweetgale by the lake, and thought something was making a nest, though it seemed awfully exposed.  When I leaned in to take the picture, I was unpleasantly surprised to find a Water Snake coiled in the shrub, about two feet off the ground.

I know snakes climb, but I had never seen one so comfortably esconced as this.

Sorry, but this is just creepy.

I don't kill Water Snakes (or any snakes, for that matter, as we don't have any poisonous ones around), but many of my cottage neighbours do. Water snakes have a (quite justified) reputation for being aggressive, and they will bite. You don't want to get bitten by a snake, poisonous or not. They get a wide berth from me, and I don't encourage them to stay around; there are lots of other places on the lake for them to go thatARE AWAY FROM ME!

 

We have a number of active and semi-tame rabbits living on our property and the neighbours'. They love to eat all my flowers, I'm sad to say, but that's wildlife. I'd love to have a little vegetable garden at the lake, just for fun, but it would be overrun by rabbits, squirrels, chipmunks, birds, and voles. And probably mice. And definitely raccoons.

Jasper isn't sure what to make of this guy.

With Iain getting close to retirement, mostly working from home, and having Starlink (finally!) delivered, we were able to move to the lake in June. This has been my dream, for years: summers at the lake, like when I was a kid. Except I don't have the energy I used to.

The canvas roof for the gazebo tore when we were taking it down last fall, so we decided to not buy another replacement. Unlike the original product, the replacement roofs didn't fit as well, and didn't stand up as well. So, after 14 years, we disassembled the gazebo.

I can't stand to throw things away, so I was tickled pink that Iain was able to use it for a wood crib!  Once covered with a huge tarp (really TOO huge, we overdid it when we were estimating the needed size), it gave the wood from our much-lamented maple a good drying space.

Did I mention the Starlink finally arrived?  It was an easy install and, say what you will about Elon Musk, the product has performed as advertised.  Really a god-send for us.

We protected it well, in case any of our cottage pals decided the wires looked tasty.